The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-20

laws make no distinction as to sex. pub.
lie sentiment in that state is opposed to
the hanging of women. The only case
similar to the Druse murder is that OF
a woman who deliberately murdered
her husband about ten years ago in
Kankakee county, in this state, in con-
sequence of cruel treatment. She was
tried and sent to the peniten tiary for
life.
LOUISIANA.
The criminal annals of Louisiana pre-
sent no exact parallel to the Druse case.
Women have been tried for murder
here, but public sentiment is SO strong
ly opposed to their execution that there
has been but one occasion for appeal
ing to the pardoning power in recent
years. Under the Louisiana laws jul
ry, in case involving life, can bring
in either simple verdict of guilty"
or one guilty without capital punish
ment."
MISSOURI.
|
Missouri. A few have received the
death-sentence but the governor or the
supreme court has always interfered in
| time to prevent the execution.
GEORGIA.
As matter of fact, the first person
ever hanged in the state of Georgia was
woman. The details of the crime and
the history of the case have been lost.
and all that remains is the oak tree up
on which she had been hanged in 1871,
and that her name was Polly. 1t was
not until 1872 that the question of hang
ing a woman became state matter.
In the April of that year the neighbors
of John Spann, of Webster county, no
ticing that the house remained closed
all day, burst open the door and found
Mrs. Span strangled to death, with
marks of uncomfortable tortures upon
her body. Her husband was missing
as well as n young and pretty girl, who
had been living in the family, named
Susan Eberhardt. After six days pur-
suit with bloodhounds the pair were
found together in Heard county, on the
Alabama line. The story developed was
that Spann had formed relations with
the girl. On the night of the murder
Mrs. Spann discovered the intimacy
and the enraged husband pushed her
back in her bed, having firm grip ON
her throat, while Miss Eberhardt at
his command, handed him pillow
slip, which he rammed down his wife's
throat until she was dead. The pair
were put on trial. convicted and SEN
fenced to be hanged. Sentence was at
at once executed upon Spann, but the
case of Susan Eberh ardt became mat
ter of state concern.
When the day of execution arrived
the officers postponed action until tho
last m mute, expecting even then n re-
prievc As Susan stood with the black
cap on her head men were sent up the
road to catch a glimpse, if possible, of
the expected messenger with reprieve,
and to wave back, if seen, the signal OF
rescue But no relief came and the de-
luded woman paid the penalty of her
crime. To this day Governor Smiths
action is held up against him.
As consequence of this agitation
the public mind was prepared to take
prompt action in 1878, when the news
of Kate Sothern's crime was made pub
lie. The public determination was that
she should not hang, and she did not.
Since that time it has been impossible
to convict n woman of murder in Geor.
gia.
INDIANA.
Not one has ever been hanged in the
State, OF has any been sentenced to
death.
No woman has ever been hanged,
although Mrs. Barrows, of Kittery, is
now under sentence of death, and great
exertions are being made in her behalf
She has reprleve untll next august
IOWA.
There is no case on record in Iowa
in which a woman has been sentenced
to death.
DELAWARE.
There never was woman hanged in
Delaware. No woman was ever con-
vicied in Delaware where the penalty
was death, hence there never was any